Safety cutoff system for fuel



Aug. 24, 1948. w. A. RAY

SAFETY cJToFF SYSTEM FOR FUEL BURNERS Filed Jan. 2, 1946 4 Sheecs-Shee'rl l INV ENTOR 54X/ ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24, 1948. w. A. RAY

SAFETY CUTOFF SYSTEM FOR FUEL BURNERS Filed Jan. 2, 1946 3 MA1/m www -,/f W mw WY, M B n f M /Ml :oid .j w m-//// ,4 7 5 n n? .2 2 u W a :.FPL 4 o V /w n 2 i 5V N E In.

Aug. 24, 194s. W. A. RAY 2,447,668

SAFETY CUTOFF SYSTEM FOR FUEL BURNERS Filed Jan. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 175g 9 Rig. 10

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BY ATTOR N EY Aug. 24,1948'. w. A. RAY

SAFETY CUTOFF SYSTEM FOR FUEL BURNERS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1946 Pig. 13

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my A n INVENTOR M//Mm A, Fay

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1948 SAFETY CUTOFF SYSTEM FOR V.BUBNERS William A; Ray, North Hollywood, Calif. Application .fantasa 191e.. serial No. 638,659

- 4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a furnace control system, and particularly to such a system employing a safety valve, incorporating a thermocouple and a reset mechanism, as well as a master valve responsive, for example, to room temperature for controlling the furnace. Such a system Vmay include a single unit furnace, employing one burner and one safety valve, or it may comprise a multiple unit furnace, employing a plurality of burners and safety valves, one for each burner, controlled by a common master valve.

This application is a division of an application filed in the name of William A. Ray, on February 4, 1941, under Serial No. 377,274 and entitled Reset valve and control therefor, now Patent No. 2,403,611, granted July 9, 1946.

A safety valve of this type, commonly includes an automatic shut-off valve arranged to insure against flow of fuel to the main burner, as well as to the pilot burner, while the pilot burner is unlighted and which is arranged to be maintained open by an electromagnet energized by a thermocouple in the pilot llame and hence is open only as long as the pilot burner remains lighted. Additionally, such a valve includes a manually operable main valve to control optionally the fuel ow to the main burner as long as the pilot burner is lighted, and reset means are provided so that it is necessary to close the main valve before the shut-off valve can be opened and supply fuel to the pilot burner. In this way a dangerous accumulation of fuel is prevented in the event if failure of the pilot burner. Further. since the main valve must be closed before the shut-off valve can be opened, injury to the user through ignition of a large volume of gas when lighting the pilot burner, is guarded against.

Thus, as long as the main valve and the shutoff valve are operi the master valve has control of the system. If it desiredv to render the furnace inactive independently of the master valve,

the main valve or valves are closed. Thus,in a system employing a plurality of furnaces, each equipped with a safety valve, one or more furnaces may be shut down as required. Further,

inthe event of pilot flame failure, fuel fiowis prevented only to the furnace associated with pilot flame that has failed, the operation of the remaining furnaces continuing in accordance with the dictates of the master valve.

It is an object of this` invention to provide an improved system of this type.V H n It is another object of this invention to provide a control system for a furnacehaving one pr more units, said system having means for controlling the furnace and means insuring against fuel flow to any unit when it is desired to light the pilot burner associated therewith.

It is another object of this invention Ato provide a control system for a furnace having one or more units, said system having means for controlling the furnace, and of means for preventing fuel flow to any of the units, responsive to failure of the pilot flame associated therewith.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control system for a furnace having one or more units, said system having means for controlling the furnace, means for optionally rendering any of the furnace units inactive, as well as for preventing fuel iiow to any of the units responsive to failure of the pilot flame associated therewith.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control system for a furnace having one or more units, employing a master valve for controlling the furnace and a reset valve for each unit, said reset valve serving optionally to render the associated furnace unit inactive independently of the master valveas well as to prevent fuel flow to the unit when the pilot flame associatedtherewith ls extinguished.

It is another object of this invention to provide a valve for use in such a system, of improved and simplified construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a valve incorporating novel means for controlling fuel ow to the pilot burner.

It is another object of this invention to proy nace having one or more units.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from `a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a View, mainly in section, of the reset valve, including an improved thermocouple for controlling the valve;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of afragment of Fig. 1` showing another position of the valve;

Fig. 3 is a. top plan view of thervalve, partly in Section, as indicated by the arrows 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section as seen on plane 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 511s a section as seen on plane 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section as seen on plane 6-6 of Fig. 1; Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sections as seen cn correspondingly numbered planes of Fig. 1;

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the valve;

Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modied form of valve;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section as seen on plane |2-I2 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a showing in diagrammatic form of a system including a multiple unit furnace controlled by reset valves.

The valve I is shown as coupled to a conduit 2 arranged to supply gaseous or liquid fuel to a burner (not shown). dual valve, including the main gas cock 3 arranged for manual control and the automatic shut-off valve 4. Fuel under pressure is admitted to the valve structure by conduct 5.

It is apparent that when the automatic shutoil valve 4 is closed, as in Fig. 1, no fuel can be delivered through the main cock 3. The valve 4, however, is so arranged that it may be held in its open position. When the valve 4 is open the control of the ow of fuel is effected by the main cock 3.

The valve structure I includes a body lll for accommodating the main cock 3, and the automatic valve 4, together with the means for opening the latter, thus providing a simple and compact structure with no exposed moving parts. The main cock 3 comprises a rotatable hollow tapered plug II, seated in a cooperating conical seat I2 formed in body Ill. In the position of Fig. 1, the plug il is in closed position, the discharge opening I3 of the plug being out of alinement with the outlet port I4 in body Ill. The inlet to the plug is formed by the axial more I5, which is open at the bottom of the plug.

The plug I I is urged to its seat |'2 for substantially fluid tight operation, as by the aid of a compression spring I6. This spring is disposed around a post I1 connected to and projecting upwardly from the upper end of plug the lower end of the spring seating on the bottom |8 of a counterbore I9 formed in the cylindrical boss 9 of body I0. The upper end of spring I6 abuts a stop plate 20, rmly secured to post |1. Thus, post I1 has its upper end portion 2|-l o f reduced diameter with a square base portion 8 forming a shoulder 22 for the accommodation of plate 20 and threaded for the reception of a nut 23. Nut 23 serves to clamp stop' plate 20 against the shoulder 22. The force exerted by spring I6 against stop plate 20 is such as to urge plug rmly to its seat, so that a substantial force is required to rotate the plug from closed to open position, or vice versa, and to seal the plug.

The angular movement of plug is limited to 90 as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. Thus,

the boss 9 on body I Il has upwardly extending lugs 24 and 25, forming abutments for the oppositely extending arms 26 and 21 on plate 20. The means for rotating plug will be described later.

Within the body I0 and surrounding the lower'A end of tapered seat I 2, a raised annular valve seat 36 is formed, this seat being concentric with the tapered plug seat I2. A'closure structure 3| is provided to cooperate with the raised seat 30. Thus structure 3| includes a valve closure member 32 adapted to cooperate with the valve seat 30 and made of some suitable yielding material,

The valve structure I is asuch as neoprene Closure member 32 is supported on a stem 33 by means of a relatively stii backing plate 34, which may be of metal. The upper portion 3510i stem 33 is of reduced diameter forming a shoulder 36 for supporting plate 34 and threaded for the reception of a nut 31. Nut 31 serves to clamp plate 34 on shoulder 36, a large diameter washer 38 of metal or other stii material being interposed between the nut 31 and the neoprene closure member 32.

Stem 33 has axially spaced hexagonal portions, 39 and 40, of larger size immediately below the threaded end portion 35 and dening a groove 4I for the reception of an operating arm or lever 42. The lower end of body I0 is closed by a member 46 formed of upper and lower plates 41 and 48, each provided with an opening 49 and 50 to accommodate stem 33. The upper plate 41 has a circular upset portion or hollow boss 5| for the reception of packing 52. This packing may be felt or other suitable material. This boss 5| also serves to space openings 49, 50 apart so as to better serve as a guide for stem 33. The arrangement is such that the valve closure structure 3| is guided axially with respect to seat 30 by stem 33 and may be moved toward or away from seat 30- by lever 4'2.

Body I0 is divided into an inlet chamber 55 and an outlet chamber 56 by that portion 51 of the body carrying valve seats I2 and 30. This portion 51 as shown most clearly in lFig. 6, is of general cylindrical structure. Fuel is admitted to inlet chamber 55 by conduit 5 which is secured in body l0 by conventional pipe threads. Fuel is conducted from outlet chamber 56 by means of conduit 2. As shown, body I0 is provided with an exteriorly threaded extension 58, to which conduit 2 is secured by a pipe coupling 59. Obviously, if valve closure 3| is seated communication between chambers 55 and 56 is stopped. If closure 3| is unseated, communication between these chambers may be controlled by rotating plug I from the position shown to that in which ports |3 and |4 are in communication, or vice versa.

The mechanism for unsealing closure 3| will now be described. Slidably supported in body portion 51 for movement parallel with the axis of plug is a push rod 62, the lower portion of which extends through an opening 63 in lever 42 (Figs. 1 and 8). The lower end of rod 62 is provided with a thin nut or other means forming a shoulder 64 thereon, a compression spring 65 being confined between this shoulder and the under side of lever 42. A circular depression 66 is formed in the lever to accommodate and guide spring 65. This depression 66 is formed by pressing the material of lever 42 upwardy to form boss 61. Above lever 42, rod 62 is provided with an enlarged portion 68, forming a shoulder 69 immediately above boss 61. The upper end 10 of enlarged portion 68 is coned, cooperating with a counterbored portion 1| of the bore 12 carrying push rod 62, to form a seal when the rod 62 is in its upper or normal position. This serves to prevent escape of fuel from chamber 55 along rod 62, Encircling the upper portion of rod 62 is a escape of fuel between rod 62 and its supporting bore 12, when rod 62 is depressed.

As clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, lever 42 is provided with a forked end 02, the forks of which enter into groove 4| on stem.-33. The opposite end 33 is also forked so as to be accommodated in a groove 84 formed in a threaded plug 86 supported in a wall of body l0. The arrangement is such that depression of rod 62 against the force of spring 15 will cause shoulder 69 to contact boss 61, swinging lever 42 downwardly about the shoulder 204 of plug 85 as 'a fulcrum, and moving valve structure 3| downwardly and away from seat 30.

'Ihe position of the fulcrum for lever 42 may be altered to secure proper operation of the valve 3 l, by adjusting the threaded plug 85 in the body. After adjustment it is sweated in place, to hold it in adjusted position as well as prevent leakage.

It is desirable to prevent rotation of member 33 with respect to seat 30. In this way, any tendency for the member 32 to wear by friction on the seat 30 is eliminated. For preventing this rotation the forked end 82 of lever 42 has downturned lugs or cheeks 86 (Fig. 7 and 8) arranged to erigage opposite faces of the hexagonal portion 40 of stem 33.

Provisions are made for maintaining valve 3| open against the force of spring 15 as well as against the pressure of the fluid in chamber 55. For this purpose use is made of an electromagnet 83 supported in a housing 9|. This housing 8| which may be of light sheet metal is secured over the lower end of body i in any convenient manner as by screws 32. between the housing 3| and the body i3 to prevent escape of fuel. Housing 0| and gasket 93 cooperate to hold closure member 46 in place on body i3, Housing 8l has a depression 35 for receiveing the horizontal portion 95 of the U- shaped core 91 of electromagnet 33. This serves to position the core 31 along the axis of the valve structure. For accurately positioning core 3l" transversely of the valve structure, use is made of a light sheet metal stamping 98, or similar member formed in any other desired manner having openings to receive the legs-88 or core 91. Member 38 is secured in position by having out A gasket 33 is interposed iindrlcalb'oss 9 as by a ball bearing arranged -ina conventional manner and including balls H2, inner race ||3 on boss 9 and outer race III in a skirt-like portion H5. This skirt ||5 has an arcuate space ||6 (Figs. 4 and 5), formed therein, terminating in an inclined or cam surface ||1. Supported on stem 62 within bore 16 is a ball I8, the parts being so proportioned that in normal position, with the stem or rod 62 in its uppermost position, ball ||8 extends a substantial distance into space ||6, but clears the top surface ||9 of this space by a, suitable distance. Thus, a, movement of cap ||0 in the direction of arrow (Figs. 4 and 5) will cause cam surface `||1 tocontact ball ||8 and force it downwardly, within bore 16. The bore serves to prevent the ball moving laterally. This downwardV movement of ball ||8 forces push rod 62 downwardly against the pressure of spring 15 and causes 'shoulder 69 to engage boss 61 on lever 42, swinging lever 42 downwardly about a point on the surfaces forming groove 84 in plug turned lugs i0@ engaged under gasket 33, A substantially complete enclosure, separate from the valve passages, is thus secured for the electromagnet core and its coil.

Cooperating with electro-magnet 80 is an armature 503 of disc form, carried by the lower end of stem 33. Stem 33 has a short neck |04 of reduced diameter at its lower end. Armature |03 has a countersunk hole |05 for the reception'of neck H33. This neck is riveted over as indicated at U35, to loosely hold armature |03 on stem 33. Armature 1103 is thus free to rock on stem 33, and accordingly is free to accurately accommodate itself to the faces of poles 89, without the need of careful alinernent of magnet core 81 with respect to the axis of stem 33. This is an important feature since it enables a minute magnetic force exerted by magnet 30 to retain valve closure 3| 85, and lowering valve 3| from seat 30. Means to prevent cap l0 from turning so far as to force ball H8 entirely off cam H1 are provided and will be described shortly. Hence, when the turning force on cap lili is released, spring T5 forces rod 62 together with ball ||8 upwardly until the conical closure 10 in rod 62 engages seat 1|. This upward movement of ball H8 causes cap H0 to move in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow |20. It will be noted that cap l I0, plug and valve closure structure 3l with its seat 30 are disposed in coaxial relationship, thus making a very compact structure.

The parts are so proportioned that movement of cap,| I0 in the direction of arrow |20 to the limit provided, will urge the valve structure downwardly a sufficient distance to bringarmature |03 into contact with the faces of poles 38 vof magnet 90. If magnet 3|) is energized, upon valve 3| will immediately be closed by spring 65.-

Electro-magnet 90 is arranged to be energized by electric current generated by a thermocouple generator |26 (Fig. i) supported by the aid of a pilot burner structure i21 so as to be heated bythe flame |28 thereof.

The pilot burner |21 may be supplied with fuel as through a pipe |29, vconnected to a port |30 leading-into the valve body I0 just above seat 30 (see Figs. 2 and 4). Accordingly when the automatic shut-off valve 3| is closed or seated thel valve 4 will at once close.

matic shut-off valve 4 can be opened or reset. For this purpose, cap is arranged to operate plug of 4cock 3 through a lost motion connec-` tion, and it is during the lost motion that the safety valve is operated. This isv accomplished by the mechanism now to be described.

Rotation of cap ||0 is caused to exert a turning force upon plug by operation upon the armsv 26 and 21 attached to the plug. Thus, referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the outer ends of arms 26 and 21 are accommodated in arcuate slots I3| and |32 formed in cap ||0. With the parts as shown, port I3 of plug is at 90 from port |4 and further movement of plug in a counterclockwise direction is prevented by the engagement of arms 26 and 21 with stationary stops 24 and 25 respectively, that are carried by the body I0. However, further movement in a counterclockwise direction of cap I0 as shown by arrow |20, is possible due to slots |3| and |32, this movement being restricted to an amount necessary to depress rod 62 so as to bring valve 3| downward until armature |03 engages magnet 90. The angular extent of this permitted movement corresponds to the angular separation of the arms 26-21 from the nearer ends 2|0, 2|| of slots |3|, |32. This movement is not sulcient to permit ball ||8 to be forced entirely out of cap ||0. Cap ||0 may be turned freely in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow 2 I4, until the ends 2|2, 2|3 of slots |3| and |32 engage arms 26 and 21 respectively, when further movement of the cap ||0 will rotate plug Il, This rotation of plug is limited by arms 26, 21 and stops 24 and 25 to 90 which alines ports I 3 and I4.

Figure 9 diagrammatically illustrates the steps incident to resetting the automatic shut-oifvalve 4 and opening the main cock 3. The several radial lines of this gure correspond to various lpositions of the plane passing through the axis and wings of cap 0. The cap ||0 is first moved counterclockwise as far as possible, which opens the safety valve 4 and corresponds in position to line |35. This provides fuel for the pilot burner |21 which is lighted, passage of fuel to the main burner being still interrupted by plug II. After a brief interval to allow the thermocouple |26 to become activey cap ||0 is turned clockwise. As it reaches the position indicated by broken line |36, the stem 62 is released and moves to the position of Fig. 2. If magnet 90 is energized, the safety valve stays open, as shown. If,how ever, the magnet 90 is not energized for any reason, such as failure to light the pilot burner, Continued movement of cap ||0 in a clockwise direction will first cause the lost motion between arms 26, 21 and slots |3I, |32 to be taken up, as indicated by radial line |31. After this motion is taken up, plug of the main cock 3 will be turned, bringing ports I3 and I4 into communication at about line |38 and into full register at line |39. Obviously, if pilot burner |21 is lighted the main burner will now be lighted. But, if the pilot burner |21 is not lighted or becomes extinguished, the automatic valve 4 remains closed or closes and takes control of the main burner away from cock 3. It will also be obvious that opening or resetting of valve 4 is only possible while the main cock 3 is closed. It is thus possible to light the pilot in perfect safety, l

The main burner can be controlled as desired by cock 3 as long as the pilot is burning. Thus, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, with the plug valve fully open, cap ||0 is turned counterclockwise, taking up the lost motion between arms 26, 21 and slots |3I, |32 as indicated by line |4|, and turning plug to bring ports I3 and |4 out of communication as indicated by line |42 and fully closing the plug valve when line |43 is reached. This position corresponds with that of line |36 of Fig. 9 and the plug valve or cock 3 may be turned from the opened position of line |42 to closed position of line |42, or vice versa as desired. Y

If the pilot name 28 becomes extinguished, and it is desired to reset the automatic shut-olf valve 4, the plug valve is turned counterclockwise through the closed position indicated .by line |43 (Fig. 10) to a position indicated by line |44. This corresponds to position |35 of Fig. 9 in which the automatic shut-oil? valve is opened as described in connection with that gure.

Due to the fact that armature |03 is mechanically moved into contact with poles 99 of magnet 90, it is possible to control the automatic valve 3| with very small electrical power such as one or two milliwatts. This required low power permits the use of a very simple thermocouple |26.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the thermocouple structure |26 employs a single hot junction and that the thermocouple elements |50, |5| are joined as by being fused together at their upper ends |52 to form this hot junction. The elements |50 and |5|, as well as the fused junction |52 are enclosed in a metal jacket or sheath |53, of suitable material such as stainless steel. Jacket |53 is secured in.one end of a tube |54, which may be of copper, for housing the conductors to be later described. The other end of tube |54 is joined to the magnet housing 9| in a gas tight manner, as by being inserted in a boss |55 on housing 9|. In this manner, any

gas or fuel which may leak past stem 33 into y housing 9| is prevented from escaping, since tube |54 and jacket I 53 are gas tight.

Tube |54 is supported by the base |56 of pilot .burner |21, which base may be in turn supported by the main burner (not shown) in accordance with usual practice. Thus, base |56 has'an aperture |51 through which tube |54 extends, snugly fitting therein. The lower portion of aperture |51 is threaded for the reception of a threaded sleeve |58, closely fitting over tube |54. A collar V0 of deformable material tapering from the c1 nter toward each end is disposed in the space between sleeve |58 and the end of aperture |51. 'I'he end of the aperture |51 as well as of the aperture in sleeve |58 is slightly countersunk to receive the adjacent end of collar |60 As the sleeve |58 is screwed in against collar |69, the ends of the collar are compressed inwardly against tube |54. securely holding it in place.

Conductors |5| and |50 are formed of dissimilar metals or alloys capable of withstanding the temperature to which they will be subjected. Such alloys, for example, are Chromel and Copel respectively. Since y.Copel is relatively inexpensive, and to simplify the construction of the thermocouple, one of the conductors as for example element |50 is formed of a continuous piece of Copel wire of a suitable gage and appropriately insulated, as by a very thin coating of enamel. This Copel wire |50 extends from junction |52 into housing 9|, where it is joined to one lead of coil |25 of electromagnet 90. Since Copel has a resistance not as great as that of Chromel, there is no intolerable power loss through this 9- conductor. The conductors |50 and |5| may be quite tightly engagedin sheath |53. 'Ijhe bare conductors |51 and |6| are thereby grounded to the sheath, but this of course is not effective to cause short circuiting, in view of the thin layer of insulation on the other conductor |50. The other conductor is formed of Chromel, and is relatively short, being joined to a copper conductor |6| as by fusion or welding at junction |62. The Chrome] conductor |5| has a thermoelectric characteristic quite similar to that of the copper lead IGI. This lead |6| extends through tube |54 and is joined to the other terminal of coil |25. Since the conductor |50 is insulated for its entire length, the conductor |5|, its associated lead |6| and the cold junction |62 can be left without insulation.

Due to the small mass of the conductors forming the thermocouple structure, there is little delay, after the pilot flame |28 is extinguished, in equalizing the temperatures, and the generation of power stopped, resulting in a rapid closure of the safety valve. 1

Furthermore, the temperature differential fr o the hot junction |52 to the cold jpnction formed at the end of the conductor |50 where it joins the electro-magnet is quite large, and there is a consequent improvement in the amount of power generated.

The thermocouple structure illustrated herein is described and claimed in an application led September 25, 1943, in the name of William A. Ray, bearing Serial No. 503,791 and entitled: Thermocouple structure, now becomes Patent No. 2,430,887, granted November 18, 1947.

When there are individual burner units of a. multi-unit furnace to be controlled separately, a slightly modified form of valve is used. The feature wherein the valve which differs from that just described are illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, while Fig. 13 illustrates diagrammatically a multiunit furnace system, in which the valve is incorporated.

The furnace is generally indicated by |15, and as shown includes four substantially identical units each heated by a burner |16, having a pilot :burner |11, serving to heat a controlling thermocouple |18. It is to be understood that the furnace |15 is used for heating a single space,v

such as a large auditorium, and is controlled as a unit in any preferred manner, as for example by a thermostat shown diagrammatically at |19, or by a time or manual switch. A source of current, such as a step down transformer is indicated at |80, by means of which switch |19 operates an electromagnetically actuated master Valve I 8|. Valve |8| controls the passage of Afuel from a suitable source (not shown) through a conduit |82 having branches |83 leading respectively to each of burners |16. Each branch |83 has a reset valve |84 interposed therein, including a main cock |85 (Fig. 12) and an automatic shut-off valve closure means |86 which operates to control the passage of fuel to the associated burner in exactly the same manner as cock 3 and shut-off valve 4 of valve structure l, in the rst described form of the invention. The valves |84 enable one or more units of the furnace |15 to be rendered inactive, thus improving the adaptability and flexibility of the system to different operating conditions.

It is obviously essential that the pilot lights |11I be supplied with fuel even when the master valve |8| has been closed by switch |19. Accordingly, the supply of fuel for the pilot burners is taken `atrasos out from pipe |82 at some point between valve |8| and the source of supply, as via connections |91, |96. Thus, the fuel for: each pilot |11 is supplied independently of the supply of fuel in branch pipes |83; and arangements are made whereby the fuel supply to each of the pilots |11 is controllable independently of the other pilots. For this reason, the reset valves |84 each have supplemental valve means generally indicated by |81 (Fig. 11) for controllingV the fuel supply for the associated pilot burner |11, port |30 and the connection |29 therefrom being omitted.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, valve |84 has a body |90 similar to body I0 of the first form of all as before.

valve described, within which the plug cock is arranged to be rotated by the winged cap ||0, Push rod or stem |9| is actuated to unseat the automatic shut-off valve |86 by the cam surface ||1 in the cap. In this form, the push rod |9| additionally functions as a valve control for the pilot |11'. Thus bore |92 in which the rod |9| slides is intersected by alned ports |93 and |94, one of which, for example l|94 .is connected to the associated pilot burner |11 by a conduit |95. The other port, |93, is connected to the fuel supply line |82 lby conduit |96, |91. Push rod |9| is encircled by an annular groove |98 which` is adapted to establish communication between ports |93 and |94 only when the push rod |9| is depressed to unseat valve |88. For this reason it is necessary that rod |9| be maintained in its lower position as long as valve |86 is open. Thus an operating lever 200 similar to lever 42 is provided for operatively connecting rod |9| with valve |86. In'this case, however, push rod |9| is held in its lower position when valve |86 is maintained open (as by the previously described electromagnetic means by a pin 20|, which confines lever 200 against a shoulder 202 on rod |9|, suitable clearance being provided. A compression spring 203 is confined between shoulder 40 on valve stem 33 and boss 5| on closure member 46, to assist in urging valve |86 to its seat 30 when released by magnet 90.

When valve |86 is to be reset, cap ||0 is rotated to lclose the valve |85. The stem |9| is depressed by the cam surface ||1; valve |81 is opened through the channel |98, and allows fuel to pass to pilot burner |11. After the burner is lighted, thermocouple |18 is energized and holds the automatic valve |86 as well as valve |81 open. Cock |85 may then be utilized to control burner |16, subject however to the master valve |8|. If the pilot flame is extinguished, the automatic valve v |86 as Well as valve |81 both close; thus no fuel canpass to that unit'of the furnace |15 under consideration, nor to its pilot. This is particularly important in using a. fuel which is heavier than air, for example butane, since if such fuel is allowed to escape through the extinguished pilot burner, it gathers in the low areas in and about the furnace, and forms a dangerous explosive mixture.

It is not necessary to employ a multiple unit f furnace as shown at |15 in Fig. 13, to realize the advantages of the system. The furnace may have a greater or a lesser number of units than shown. Thus, a' single yunit furnace may be provided, employing a single burner |16 controlled by a rest valve |84, and a master valve |8I. Such an arrangement makes it possible to extinguish the burner |16 independently of the master valve I8 I, as well as ensuring against danger upon pilot flame failure. It will 'be obvious that the fuel supply to the pilot in a single unit furnace must be independent of the master valve I8 I, as in the multiple furnace arrangement.

The inventor claims:

1. In a fuel supply system having a main burner amain fuel valve, a pilot burner, a shut-olf valve for controlling the passage oi' fuel to the main burner, and means operating in response to the existence of a pilot flame to maintain the shut-oil' valve open, the shut-ot valve when closed preventing passage of fuel through the main valve, a conduit for supplying fuel to a pilot burner, and a reset mechanism for temporarily opening the shut-off valve: the combination therewith of means forming a supplemental valve for controlling the passage of fuel through said conduit, and operated by said reset mechanism, and a master valve for controlling the passage of fuel to said shut-off valve, said conduit being supplied with fuel independently of said master valve.

2. In a fuel supply system for a. furnace having at least one unit including a main burner and a pilot burner, a main fuel valve as well as a shutoff valve for controlling the passage of fuel to said main burner, and means operating in response to the existence of a pilot flame to hold the shut-off valve open, the shut-off valve when closed preventing the passage of fuel through the main valve, a master valve for controlling the passage of fuel to said shut-oil' valve, means to supply fue] to said pilot burner irrespective of the operations of the master valve, and a supplemental valve operatively associated with the shut-ofil valve to prevent passage of fuel to the pilot burner upony closure of said shut-oil' valve.

3. In a fuel supply system for a multiple unit furnace, each unit having a main burner and a pilot burner; a manually controllable valve for each main burner; valve means for each pilot burner; a shut-off valve for each main burner, and operating to prevent passage of fuel through the manually controllable valve, and to the pilot burner, in the event of pilot flame failure, means lil) for holding said shut-oil. valve in open position i1 response to the presence of a, pilot flame, manna reset means for said shut-olf valves; a maste valve passing fuel to all of said manually control lable valves; condition responsive means for op erating the master valve; and separate means fo` supplying fuel to each of the pilot valve means. and independent of the master valve.

4. In a fuel supply system for a multiple uni furnace, each unit having a main burner and l pilot burner: a manually controllable valve iol each main burner; a manually reset shut-of valve for each main burner and operating, unti reset, to prevent passage of fuel to the mai: burner, said shut-olf valve being biased to closec' position; means for manually resetting said shutoil! valve; means for holding said shut-off valve ir open position in response to the presence of a pilot flame; valve means to pass fuel to the pilot burner; means operated by the manual reset lmeans for operating said valve means to open position; a master valve passing fuel to rall of said Vmanually controllable valves; condition responsive means for operating the master valve; and a conduit for supplying fuel to all of said valve means independently of said master valve.

- WILLIAM A. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS v Number Name Date 2,094,284 TePas Sept. 28, 1937 2,127,445 Hardgrove Aug. 16, 1938 2,237,577 Ray Apr. 8, 1941 2,257,024 Ray Sept. 23, 1941 2,271,506 Mantz Jan. 27, 1942 2,318,823 Wantz May 11, 1943 2,353,759

Ray July 18, 1944 

